Welcome to I hope you enjoy my blog. I have links to the books I have written posted here. Along with a few family history links. I have projects we have done and are doing. Some ideas on food storage recipes and other hints. Along with our homestead chatter and crafts.

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

We attended our first great grand daughters 1st birthday yesterday and got to see a few of our children and grands.

Our oldest son was dropping off his youngest son to a birthday party at the same park and hadn't known of the his grand nieces birthday. He has pretty much been working 24/7.

One of our older daughters picked up my mom her grandma on the way up so we had baby, mom, great grandma, and great great gradma plus a grandpa and great grandpa and the others sides grandma and great grandma lol. Plus assorted uncles, grand uncles, aunt and grand aunts and then friends.
I had made the little one a new quilt.

We got our 1st daffodils this week.

I also realized I hadn't bought any shampoo and hair rinse in a year and we're starting to get low as in my favorite one not any left on the shelf. So we started to pick some back up 2 large bottles of shampoo and one hair rinse to get it going again. I happen to like Garnier Fructis and they come in 24.4 fl.oz. bottles.

Its funny how sometimes you just use and forget to replace or wait to do so. Especially when money has gotten tight and I will say oh I will pick some more up next time and then that becomes I will have to wait on that and so forth and before you know it bam last bottle.

Next payday will be more cold meds again for we use so much up when 2 or 3 of us come down with one and it goes quickly.

I have been working on 2 new quilts as I am able. A baby and a twin size. The one that's sort of a log cabin is with some cats my aunt did about 40 years ago.

Monday, April 15, 2013

I hear the experts say this will be a heavy hurricane season and wonder if that means more tornados also for the areas of the country that normally get them?But we also know there can be flooding, quakes, ice storms, and other heavy winds like just went through areas of the south west and Midwest. Drought can be considered a disaster along with all that.Where we live we have danger of earth quakes and volcanos. There is an earth quake fault that runs down the Clearwater River in Lewiston Idaho for those that don't know that.When MT St. Helens blew they have several inches of ash here. And our home has slews of volcanic rocks all over the ground and just below the surface.* Do you have back up plans in case of no electricity or rolling blackouts? This would be for things like cooking, boiling water and or having a way to purify your water. Really I like the saying 1 is done and 2 is one. If you have one way to do something important and life saving like this and you have one and it is damaged or lost in some way you end up with done. Matches anyone?I know having a place and a way to go to the bathroom and hold sewage is another. Do you have even a 5 gallon bucket with trash bags to line it with for going to the bathroom? Do you have a good supply of trash bags?I know places like Beprepared.com have toilet seats that sit on 5 gallon buckets and oh so much better then trying to hold yourself up on a bucket. Or a way for someone to cut a hole in aboard or nice heavy piece of plastic to sit on a bucket? Yes I know not things we like to think about but so very important.It is still quite cool and cold in some parts of the country right now do you have a alternate way of staying warm?Extra blankets, sleeping bags, pads or blow up swimming floats work if you have to sleep in the same room and that's where its the warmest.Or the other end trying to keep cooler when its hot, that is a hard one. Learn to rest in the hottest part of the day. Have water you can wet a rag with and wipe yourself or family down or some spray bottles you can spray yourselves with.Do you have hand kitchen tools, can openers, a cast iron skillet that can be used over a open fire if need be and the utensils that will be needed?A set of metal plate and cup sets or scout camp set for each family member.And don't forget the extra things that will be needed for babies. Pick up some cloth diapers, diaper pins, a small trash can with a lid for a diaper pail and plastic pants. (If you have to hand towels can be used) You may be able to buy disposables for awhile. Don't forget bleach. I always but a 1/4 cup of bleach in a diaper pail and had it 1/4 full of water to soak diapers in and keep down odor.Do you have formula or powdered milk and extra baby food that can be rotated once a year? Make sure you buy replacements and then use the older up. But never use what's stored in the meantime for everyday because then when you need it the most it wont be there.Do you have foods that can be readily eaten or with very little heating or cooking? Think even 2 weeks worth? In a lot of places it has been 2 to 4 weeks before electricity was restored after severe storms.What if you or a family member is caught away from home when something happens?Do they have a 72 hour kit in the car with a pair of sturdy walking shoes, even a set of tennis shoes?I know it can be a hassle to make sure the people in the car have these but it can be very necessary and you will sure wish you had one when it comes time and you or loved one are caught away from home.Do you keep simple things like some water in the car?I learned the hard way. About 16 years back (ack how time flies) we went to a sons state track meet 6 hours away in Boise ID. Ok this was just a day trip no big deal right?Okay its late afternoon and we are headed home now with son and his girl friend. He went down by bus and we brought her. We get half way home and guess what there had been a rock slide a couple of miles outside of Riggins ID. All the way across the road. No one was going anywhere on either side of the road. We back tracked to a rest stop where we had to spend the night in the car. No extra clothes, (for women at a certain time of the month this can be a disaster) no blankets and etc. Nothing to wash up with or even brush our teeth the next morning.I vowed never again would I be caught like this. I have a small back pack in the car that holds a couple wash clothes in plastic bags, soap, 2 toothbrushes, tooth paste, a hand towel or 2, lotion, a couple of food bars and a couple of other items. We also throw in a 72 hour kit just in case with a change of clothes in it as well which is supposed to be in it anyway :).Do you have a small back pack 72 hour kit for each of your children? Include a toy or book depending on the ages with the clothes and their favorite food bars or what is best for them along with the clothes.I guess I have gone on long enough but I can't stress enough on how important this is for you and your families safety and well being.Comments welcome.

Monday, April 8, 2013

We have run the gambit of weather this past weekend and maybe more snow today they say and then in a couple of days we should be back up to around 50 during the day.We have a dinner this coming Friday and I will be bringing my version of Swedish Cabbage Rolls.Swedish Cabbage RollsMix together:1 pound hamburger2 cups cooked rice1 can tomato soup or equal can tomato saucesalt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon onion powderNextLarge cabbage leaves taken from head not broken1 pot of boiling salted waterPlunge leaves in boiling salted water until leaves are pliable. Then take out immediately and let cool. Place large spoon of meat rice mix in the center of a leaf fold top, bottom and then sides in and secure with toothpick.Bake in a buttered roaster for 1 hour or until done. Any pan you can cover works.I finished the King Quilt.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Yep I finally managed to catch the cold/flu the family has had for the last couple of weeks. So Easter Sunday I was ill and threw in a ham and Dave made French toast and scrambled eggs for our Supper.But some things still have to be done no matter what. Dave's home on vacation, what a vacation trying to get well as he can't seem to shake this.Stocked upLast time we shopped and the time before we bought things we were getting short on. Sometimes you turn around and its been months since you bought something and you realize whoops we're running low.Tooth paste bought 5 tubes of his and 5 tubes of mine.Needed Flax oil so bought 6 months worth,super large bottle so 15-5 gallon buckets to bucket up 2- 50 lb bags of flour and a sugar2-2 gallon buckets for small things24 cans of chicken noodle soup for something quick especially when ill- on sale of course12 cans of green beans just to replace some we have used1 large bottle of body lotion1 box of 12 of top Raman dry soups- replacementCold medicinesLarge container black pepper-replacementWe went to a wedding and we aren't what you say normal, our gift was, 1 #10 can of Morning MOO and a # 10 can of Chicken Vegetable soup, a set of 3 of good large knives, 2 knitted hats for him and a knitted scarf and fingerless mitts for her and a large candle in a glass bottle with lid.

We managed to pay off a couple of bills, that felt good. But as soon as we need tires again that one will be back lol. Gads those things are so expensive and you cant do without them.I got the king sized quilt all pinned and ready to sew before I got sick.

Sallys Country Home

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About Us

We are the parents of 10 children. We have 5 boys and 5 girls. We lost 1 daughter Dec 3 2012. My husband and I live on a small old farm built in the 1930s, it is in need a lot of work. It is getting done little by little. Each year finds improvements made. We are down to lots of chickens, 2 dogs and 1 cat. At different times of the year we raise Cornish X-Rock meat birds and turkeys. I write,love taking pictures,doing family history, reading, wash and spin wool, do all sorts of needlework, quilt, garden, can and dehydrate produce and I love learning new crafts. Together we reroofed the house and built a roof over our deck. Hubby is very handy and is a jack of all trades. Farm fence work is continuing.